TAMPA, FL—Amalie Arena, home to the National Hockey League’s Tampa Bay Lightning, recently underwent a major video upgrade. The 20,000-seat multipurpose venue in downtown Tampa, Florida, is also used for a variety of other sporting events, concerts, and live entertainment. The technology upgrades include several enhancements outside the venue, including a large-format corner display on the arena’s façade, two LED ribbons, and several LED kiosks featuring themed content to enhance gameday excitement. The arena is currently hosting Eastern Conference First Round playoff games as the No. 2-seed Lightning face in-state rival and the No. 3-seed Florida Panthers, both of the Atlantic Division.
Owner representative and strategic advisor Sensory Interactive provided technology selection and procurement, documentation and acquisition, and construction management services on behalf of arena operator Vinik Sports Group, selecting SNA Displays to provide 6 mm and 10 mm EMPIRE™ Exterior video display technology.
The LED corner-wrap display, well suited for 3D anamorphic content, measures approximately 40′ tall x 98′ wide (1,224 x 2,976 pixels) and faces Channelside Drive to the north and S. Morgan Street to the west. Façade-mounted above the Ashley VIP Lounge, the nearly 4,000 square-foot LED spectacular employs a 10 mm pixel pitch and processes more than 3.6 million pixels. It replaced static signage, providing much more dynamic options for arena management.
A pair of 110-foot-long LED ribbons flank the stairs leading to Amalie Arena’s main entrance from parking garages along S. Morgan. The ribbons, which sport a 10 mm pixel pitch at a resolution of 144 x 3,360 pixels, overlook Ford’s Thunder Alley, a courtyard adjacent to the corner-wrap display that contains a taproom, a stage, and other pre-game amenities.
Finally, eight new double-sided walkup LED kiosks are staged throughout the venue’s exterior. Each vertically oriented 6 mm display is 7’10” x 4’9″.
The installation of the new LED displays were interrupted by Hurricane Milton, a powerful storm that made landfall near Tampa as a Category 3 hurricane.
“Installing several large LED displays and LED kiosks during Hurricane Milton was certainly a challenge,” said Kelvin Spencer, senior field service and installation manager for SNA Displays. “I’m proud of the work we accomplished under such conditions and the dedication of our field crews.”
SNA Displays worked with technology integrator AmpThink throughout the installation and integration process.
See more at SNA Displays’ Amalie Arena portfolio page.
About SNA Displays
SNA Displays is a leading LED video display manufacturer across several market sectors including sports and live-event venues, out-of-home (OOH), commercial real estate, retail environments, museums and commissioned digital art, workplaces, new construction, and many others. With a focus on quality, technological and construction expertise, and dependable service, we have worked alongside technology partners to design and build some of the largest and most recognizable LED video installations in the world. Discover how Dreams Live Digitally® at snadisplays.com.
About Sensory Interactive
Sensory Interactive offers a suite of services to identify, design, monetize, and realize maximum ROI through Dynamic Real Estate® (the integration of technology in public spaces to improve guest experiences and deliver untapped value). Their multidisciplinary team works with owners, developers, and investors to develop solutions at every phase of a project from pre-development to construction, and operation.
They have delivered standout experiences and returns with project management services across the country at projects including Moynihan Train Hall and TSX Broadway in New York, Victory Park in Dallas, Texas to Hollywood Park in Inglewood, CA. For more information, visit sensoryinteractive.net.
About AmpThink
AmpThink is a recognized leader in the deployment of complex technology systems in public venues. They have successfully executed projects in over 100 stadiums and arenas, hundreds of manufacturing and distribution facilities, and orchestrated national roll-outs for Fortune 500 retailers. Learn more at ampthink.com.